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The State of California is the most populous state of the United States of America. Located on the Pacific coast of North America, it is bordered by Oregon, Nevada and Arizona in the United States, and Baja California in Mexico. The state’s four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. California is known for its diverse climate and ethnically diverse population. The state has 58 counties.
Inhabited by indigenous people for millennia, Alta California was first colonized by the Spanish Empire in 1769, and after Mexican independence in 1821, continued as part of Mexico. Following one brief week as the independent California Republic in 1846, and the conclusion of the Mexican-American war in 1848, California was annexed by the United States and was admitted to the Union as the thirty-first state on September 9, 1850.
California’s diverse geography ranges from the sandy beaches of the Pacific coast to the rugged, snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the east. The central portion of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most vital agricultural areas in the country. The Sierra Nevada contains Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially-carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the largest living organisms on Earth, the giant sequoia trees, and the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. The tallest living things on Earth, the ancient redwood trees, dot the coastline, mainly north of San Francisco. California is also home to the second lowest and hottest place in the Western Hemisphere, Death Valley. Bristlecone pines located in the White Mountains are the oldest known trees in the world; one has an age of 4,700 years.part of the Ozarks.

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Local News from San Diego Union-Tribune via Yahoo! News

Woman rescued from burning apartment

Jan 6, 2009 3:51 pm

Firefighters rescued an unconscious woman from the bedroom of her burning apartment in Point Loma Heights early Tuesday morning.

Speeding motorcyclist collides head-on with car

Jan 6, 2009 3:39 pm

A motorcyclist who reportedly was speeding down South Coast Highway 101 last night collided head-on with a car that pulled out from a parking lot, a sheriff's official said.

Drizzle possible today, Friday; otherwise sunny

Jan 6, 2009 3:38 pm

The first full week of 2009 is expected to be storm-free and mostly sunny.

Three residents named to city's Audit Committee

Jan 6, 2009 3:21 pm

San Diegans Stephen Grant, Charles Sellers and Wade McKnight were appointed yesterday to the three public seats on the city's Audit Committee, on which they will join Councilmen Kevin Faulconer and Ca...

For the record

Jan 6, 2009 10:08 am

Because of incorrect information from a source, a caption on page B1 of Sunday's Our Region section indicated that the State Water Resources Control Board was a sponsor of Palm Avenue Plaza in Imperia...

Short Takes: School bus problems cause students to be late

Jan 6, 2009 10:08 am

SAN DIEGO: Buses for an estimated 300 San Diego Unified School District students ran late yesterday because drivers had trouble starting the coaches after the two-week holiday break, director of trans...

Auditors flag city's fed grant managing

Jan 6, 2009 10:07 am

San Diego may have to repay the federal government more than $1.8 million, as auditors have found the city mismanaged grant money meant to help poor neighborhoods and low-income residents.

Obituaries: For the record

Jan 6, 2009 10:07 am

An obituary for Art Risser in Friday's paper omitted some survivors and misspelled his mother's name because of incorrect information provided by a source.

Local News from Monterey County Weekly via Yahoo! News

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Jan 1, 2009 8:12 am

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A Tale of Two Cities

Jan 1, 2009 8:12 am

Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pacific Grove are both pockets of privilege carved into prime oceanside real estate. Their residents are significantly wealthier, whiter and older than the national and county av...

Nursing Grudges

Jan 1, 2009 8:11 am

A contentious labor and patient-care struggle between unionized workers and four Windsor nursing homes in Monterey County has spilled into Salinas City Hall.

Local News from The Fresno Bee via Yahoo! News

Tulare County supervisors wary of more cuts

Jan 6, 2009 7:58 pm

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors expect more spending cuts and more difficult financial decisions as California lawmakers continue to grapple with revising the state budget.

Video: Swearengin, council sworn in at City Hall

Jan 6, 2009 5:28 pm

Ashley Swearengin was sworn in as mayor of Fresno at 9:35 this morning at City Hall.

Pending home sales plunge to record low in Nov.

Jan 6, 2009 5:28 pm

The National Association of Realtors says pending home sales fell to the lowest level on record in November, as the plummeting stock market and faltering economy caused buyers to put their purchases o...

Gas leak briefly closes section of I-5

Jan 6, 2009 3:28 pm

Gas leaking from pipe closed Jane Avenue just east and west of Interstate 5 for about an hour early this morning, Fresno County fire officials said.

Economic crisis, Obama response face new Congress

Jan 6, 2009 3:13 pm

The new Congress opened for business at the stroke of noon on Tuesday, eager to join President-elect Barack Obama in tackling the worst economic crisis in generations. Democrats celebrated last fall's...

Extreme excitement builds for house

Jan 6, 2009 6:59 am

Show business meets philanthropy in the Fresno area this week as the ABC reality television series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" comes to town, putting thousands of volunteers -- and one ...

Fresno plans cuts to budget

Jan 6, 2009 6:59 am

After months of reporting surpluses, Fresno finally has succumbed to the recession, officials said Monday as they announced a gap of up to $7 million in the city's current budget.

Episcopal Church wins property case

Jan 6, 2009 6:58 am

A state Supreme Court ruling Monday that sided with the U.S. Episcopal Church in a property dispute could influence a similar case in Fresno, where the local diocese broke away from the national organ...

Hoover High grad remembered as dedicated, brilliant lawyer

Jan 6, 2009 6:58 am

WASHINGTON -- Few lawyers are good enough to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. The late Barbara McDowell, a 1969 graduate of Fresno's Hoover High School, did it twice in one day.

'Dogs go long on Broncos

Jan 6, 2009 6:57 am

Fresno State has made a habit of living and dying by the 3-point shot this women's basketball season.

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Top 39 most popular retirement CITIES in California:

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